There are several key differences between classic Mega Man and Mega Man X– from the darker storyline to a greater emphasis on action over pure platformer– but the X sub-series arguably defines itself best through the implementation of a full progression system. Beyond X’s Armor upgrades and Sub-Tanks, his health bar isn’t static like Rock’s was.
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Every Maverick stage in Mega Man X hides at least one Heart Tank that upgrades X’s health, but very few are just lying out in the open. Finding every Heart Tank in Mega Man X requires not only knowing the layout of all eight Maverick stages, but understanding how different boss weapons influence & play off of the level design.
8 Flame Mammoth
Flame Mammoth’s Heart Tank will be the first players should get their hands on, but Flame Mammoth’s stage should not be the first that players complete. Mega Man X is an excellently designed game, but its fatal flaw is that it locks the dash behind the Leg Parts– an armor upgrade found in Chill Penguin’s stage.
After grabbing the Leg Parts and defeating Chill Penguin (you won’t be finding a Heart Tank right away,) Flame Mammoth’s stage will be frozen over. Flame Mammoth’s Heart Tank can be seen sitting underneath a platform that was previously filled with lava. Walk underneath and grab the Tank.
7 Chill Penguin
After grabbing the Heart Tank in Flame Mammoth’s stage and defeating the Maverick, head back into Chill Penguin’s stage to wrap up loose ends. The upper path of Chill Penguin’s stage is littered with generators that spawn enemies. Without Flame Mammoth’s weapons, these generators prove to be indestructible.
With Flame Mammoth’s weapon, however, X can burn through the generators. The generator hiding the Heart Tank is hiding above the cave during the Ride Armor sequence. Instead of entering the cave, abandon the ride armor and take the upper path.
6 Storm Eagle
Storm Eagle’s Heart Tank is an easy one to grab right away, although attempting to beat him this early in the game might not be advised. Regardless, finding Storm Eagle’s Heart Tank simply requires doing a dash jump off the rotating elevator platforms at the start of the stage. By riding them up and dashing left, X will reach a platform with Storm Eagle’s Heart Tank.
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Worth pointing out, however, is that X will now be locked in the stage until players get a Game Over or Storm Eagle is defeated. It’s worth sticking around, though, as there’s an armor upgrade within Storm Eagle’s stage that can be easily gotten with the Leg Parts and Flame Mammoth’s weapon.
5 Launch Octopus
While X doesn’t need anything special to grab the Heart Tank in Launch Octopus’ stage, it is an ordeal in and of itself. Not only is Launch Octopus’ level filled with mini-bosses, the Heart Tank is actually guarded by a serpent who’s reasonably difficult to defeat (if only for the underwater controls and boss arena.)
To find the Heart Tank in the first place, players need to sink one of the green ships floating at the top of the stage. Once the correct ship is destroyed, follow it as it sinks and X will stumble upon a nearly formed path where he’ll encounter the mini-boss and Heart Tank.
4 Spark Mandrill
Spark Mandrill’s Heart Tank is a tough one for newcomers, one that’s potentially frustrating on a first playthrough. There are two methods of grabbing the Heart Tank, but neither one is particularly easy. The first is to simply align X correctly and shoot the Boomerang Cutter. It’s not too hard, but it requires a precision someone unfamiliar with the mechanics might lack.
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The other means of grabbing the Heart Tank is by doing a dash job off the wall and aligning X just right so that he can kick off the edge of the platform holding the Heart Tank. It requires genuine skill to pull off, but it’s a technique worth mastering as it’s useful throughout the entire sub-series.
3 Armored Armadillo
Finding Armored Armadillo’s Heart Tank can be a heartbreaker endeavor, if only because most players will stumble upon it for the first time after they miss their chance to grab it. Armored Armadillo’s Heart Tank is found roughly halfway through the stage. During the sequence where X is being chased by the Mole Borer, run ahead and keep ahead.
If you’re fast enough, X should be able to reach the Heart Tank before the Mole Borer destroys the path. Should you miss your chance to get ahead, however, X can destroy the Mole Borer before it breaks down the path but he’ll need to shoot fast.
2 Boomer Kuwanger
Like Spark Mandrill’s Heart Tank, Boomer Kuwanger’s is hidden in plain sight. Near the end of the stage, players can spot the Heart Tank sitting on a ledge outstretched from the wall. While it is possible to dash jump to the Heart Tank, it is extremely difficult. The intended method requires either using the Boomerang Cutter to grab it (Kuwanger’s own weapon,) or a fully charged Ice Shot.
By charging up Shotgun Ice with the Arm Parts, X will make a frozen platform that he can ride and jump off of. Simply position the ice so it slides towards the Heart Tank and dash jump towards it before the ice plummets.
1 Sting Chameleon
Not all bottomless pits are destined to kill X as evidenced by the suspicious hole in Sting Chameleon’s stage. Should players tackle the stage before defeating Launch Octopus, this’ll just be a dead end room with a Heart Tank you can’t grab. Upon defeating Launch Octopus, however, the pit will be flooded.
X will now be able to use the water to safely jump over the Heart Tank. From there, he can effortlessly jump out and finish the stage. While X doesn’t need all 8 Heart Tanks to defeat Sigma, it does make getting through the first Mega Man X a more palatable experience.
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